Ranger RT 198P prop size to get best overall

[j5jeffw]

I purchased a leftover 2018 Ranger RT198P Dual Console with a 2018 Mercury 150 4 stroke, sold the Mercury with 0 hours and bought a new 2019 Yamaha 150 SHO 4 inch Manual Jackplate set about 1 inch above its lowest setting after 4 different lowering sessions from all the way up to where it sits now trying to stop the turning cavitation, I added 2 8' Powerpole Blades 2.0, MK Ultrex 80, 2 Humminbird Solix 12 Mega SI and a few other extras I added on.

I have been tweaking the boat after every trip and I am at roughly 8 hours or so, this boat planes in 1 to 2 seconds and accelerates fast, one thing I have noticed is that the RPMs hit 6000 very fast. And if I do not feather the hotfoot and not pay attention it will go over and that is trimmed up and fully loaded, 2 guys and full tank of fuel gear and cooler full. Top speed is at 50 to 51 at 5900 to 6000 RPM and I know this boat will get up to close to 60 if I wanted to blow the motor up. With just me and medium amount of gear and 1/2 tank it will get up to 55. I have for the last 13 years ran only fiberglass boats 1 used Ranger, 1 brand new Ranger and the rest were all brand new Skeeters and I use the boats just as they came from the factory and never had to tune or adjust anything as they were turnkey ready.

The prop that is on there now is a 21-M 14 1/2 stainless

My question is what prop size would give me better overall with top speed, top rpm and ride. Note: when I say trimmed up I meant trimmed up enough to run on pad with more throttle to give it if I wanted and that is at 6k rpm the max range, I can trim it down and the rpm will max lower to about 5200 to 5400 but the hull will have more drag and I lose about 4 to 7 mph.

I see some RT198s have 23 and 24p props either with Mercury or Yamaha and I am almost certain that is what I need for prop size.

If anyone here can let me know so I can get the right prop this go round and avoid wasting more time tuning this boat before the 2020 season gets underway.

I am also getting a Hydraulic jackplate instead, I had to try the manual first but it isn't gonna work well if I need to adjust in rough water or super shallow water.

Thanks in advance!

[Jraywheat]

Its hard to compare different brand motors, but here is my setup. I have a 2020 RT 198p with a Mercury 150L (not Pro XS) and am running a 24 pitch Tempest Plus prop which is what Ranger sent from the factory. With two people, fishing gear, full tank of gas, and the livewell half full I can get 58 mph (gps) at WOT. RPM's are running 5200-5300 which is at the low range of the WOT RPM for that motor. Maximum RPM is 5800. I would rather have a 23 pitch prop to get the RPM's up a little, probably wouldn't make much difference on the top end and hole shot is fine with the 24P. I do not have a jack plate nd my motor is mounted in the second hole from the top. I do not know my prop to pad measurement. It definitely sounds like you need to go up in pitch (higher number), usually its 200-300 less rpm's per pitch size.

[n2bassn]

My rt198P is basically like yours except I’m running a 150 four stroke mercury. I’m turning a 24 inch tempest plus and top speed is 58.7 mph by myself.

[j5jeffw]

This morning I went to my dealership and took a 15.5 inch 24p SHO prop and am getting up to 58.7 mph but chine walk at that speed at 5800 to 5900 rpm. I might go and grab a 14.5 23p and it might put me right at 6000 max. Not really about top end speed but more so best performance at max rpm. Of course I would like to get up to 60 plus when needed in a time crunch but yeah the 24p is almost perfect just not getting the 6000 without chine walking. I was however by myself, 3/4 tank and nothing in the boat at all. So I filled the livewell to the top for added weight.

[mactlman]

motor has a rev limiter so can't blow it up, will shut off cylinders if it goes over redline setting